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Colin
Colin

Chapter V

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Context Illustration Reading 1/123 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.
The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.
She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.
On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.
Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Colin

Chapter V

Reading 1/123 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.
Line 2
The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.
Line 3
She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.
Line 4
On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.
Line 5
Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

Breakfasting verb US /ˈbrɛkfəstɪŋ/

eating the morning meal in a specific situation in this story

From this reading “On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.”

All words in this reading · 94

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

arrival

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

awaited

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

board

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

Breakfast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

breakfastingverbUS /ˈbrɛkfəstɪŋ/

eating the morning meal in a specific situation in this story

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

bubbled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

butler

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

case

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

clear

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

coming

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

consumers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

dinner

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

dishes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

dispensing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

else

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

empty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

end

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

filtered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

footman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

forks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

front

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

Hot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

invariably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

knives

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

Lady

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

laid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

less

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

ministrations

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

news

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

possible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

removal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

removed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

row

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

shade

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

sideboard

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

spirit-lamps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

Stanier

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

stately

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

table

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

taken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

tale

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

tea

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

teapot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

tidings

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Hot dishes above spirit-lamps stood in a row on the sideboard, and there remained till somebody had come down or till, from the removal of knives and forks, it was clear that nobody was coming.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

twenty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.

upstairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the arrival of tidings that she was having breakfast in her room, the urn was taken away, and if news filtered through the butler to the footman that some one else was breakfasting upstairs, a place at the table was removed.

urn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

vicarious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Breakfast at Stanier was a shade less stately than dinner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

Yardley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The table was invariably laid for the complete tale of its possible consumers, and a vicarious urn bubbled at the end of the board with an empty teapot in front of it, in case of old Lady Yardley coming down to breakfast and dispensing tea.

years

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not come down for over twenty years, but the urn still awaited her ministrations.